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The coyote stepped outside and took a long breath, closing her eyes. A long moment passed as she simply stood on the first of several broad flagstones that formed a path through her small front garden, the wind tousling her short, sleek, softly shining golden-brown fur, that paled to a sandy white on chest, belly, throat, inner thighs and rear.
Fur was all she wore, other than a large, plump bag hanging from her right shoulder, a mostly metallic prosthetic from the knee down on her left leg, and a coppery ring on her right nipple. Her figure was modest but graceful, gentle curves with a touch of plumpness in the belly, and a lightly swaying plume of a tail.
Pale blue eyes opening, she turned to look at the door, and extended a paw, giving a warm, encouraging smile. After a few seconds, another coyote came shyly out, glasses perched on his snout, secured by a cord around his head, a small tooth poking out on the left of his muzzle, and a bronze book charm hanging on a string around his neck.
He sidled up to the older coyote, pressed himself into her flank, cheek resting on her shoulder, one hand cradling his genitals. She held him, a hand on his hip, and stroked his chest with the other, until she felt the trembles fade to almost nothing, then nudged his nose with hers.
“Last chance to change your mind,” she told him.
The boy took a breath, pushed away, shook himself lightly, let his paw drop, then shook his head. “I'm ready, Mum.”
The other canine's smile grew, and she pressed a kiss to the bridge of his snout. “Then we'd better get going; bus should be here any time.”
She locked the door, then took the boy's paw and led the way up the path to the gate. Slipping past it, they walked a short distance along a quiet street to a bus stop, where a smartly-dressed puma was already waiting; their eyes widened as the two coyotes stopped beside them, and there was a faint tilt of the head, but no other reaction, even to a pleasant smile from the older canine.
Barely more than a minute later, a compact bus in livery of silver and white drew up, and they boarded, elder coyote scanning a card. Near the back sat a plump and genial red panda in a tidy black waistcoat and slacks, who waved excitedly at them. They moved to join him, bracing themselves as the bus rumbled into motion. The boy was pulled onto the panda's lap, while his mother sat beside them.
The panda, green eyes shining behind round glasses, gave strong hugs to both, shared a long and firm press of muzzles with the elder coyote, then kissed the brow of the younger, who blushed. “Wonderful to see you both! Having a day out?”
The mother nodded. “Making the most of the weather. And trying to teach my little prince a lesson.”
The boy's ears turned redder. “Mum, I'm twelve, not six...”
The older canine just grinned wider, and patted his scalp.
The panda started fussing over him, petting and stroking his fur. “You know, if you're going out not dressed like this, you could at least groom yourself properly.”
“I fear you ask the impossible,” the elder coyote chuckled. “That coat just won't stay tidy.”
“No mystery where he gets that from. Going anywhere nice?”
“Visit our favourite book stall, since we both need some new reading material, then lounge and play on the beach for as long as we want.”
“And the Shore Park!” the boy piped up. “You promised we'd ride the coaster together.”
“And we will, as much as that prospect terrifies me.” Her smile turned wry. “Only fair, after all.”
Her son's widened, and he nuzzled-kissed her ruffed cheek.
“You could join us, if you'd like,” the mother offered to the panda.
“Tempting, but too busy. One day soon we'll all get together, though, I promise.”
She tapped his nose playfully. “I'll hold you to that!”
“Please do! I've sorely missed our get-togethers, and I owe a certain mongoose a chess game.” He nuzzled the scalp of the boy he held, and squeezed them. “And the little prince here some cuddles.”
The younger coyote blushed brighter again, giggling faintly, but didn't hesitate to return the nuzzle. “People are staring, Da.”
“Let them!” the panda proclaimed, raising his voice, and aiming a big smile at the other passengers watching on with varied expressions. “It doesn't bother me, and it shouldn't bother you.”
“Their problem, not yours,” the elder canine concurred. “And sorry to love you and run, but this is our stop.”
“I'm just happy to have seen you. Soon as I know when I'll have some decent free time, I'll let you know, and hopefully things work out.”
“All right.” A spark lighting in her eyes, the elder coyote leaned closer to the panda. “And we might as well say a proper goodbye, hmm?”
He laughed, nodded, and their muzzles meshed in a warm kiss. Then he shared a quick press of lips with the boy, and waved brightly as they stood and moved to the front of the bus. It pulled into a lay-by outside a railway station, several people disembarking along with the pair, and several more climbing on.
The older coyote squeezed her son's shoulder, and nosed his brow, he lightly nuzzled her chin, they she took his hand again and they entered the station. She scanned her card at the turnstiles, and they crossed a bridge over the rails to the far platform. There, she checked a monitor, then they sat on a bench to wait.
The boy pressed close again, one arm around his mother, paw resting on her hip, head on her shoulder. She clasped his waist, and kept hold of his other paw, and started humming a cheerful little tune. She gave a friendly smile to everyone that passed, getting some in return, along with blank stares, confused head cocks and the odd frown, but no-one stopped to talk.
After ten minutes wait, their train pulled in, many doors sliding open, and many people flowing on and off. The elder coyote led the younger onto the quietest of the three cars, at the rear, and they took seats in a section occupied only by a lanky raccoon and her toddler daughter, the former smiling and nodding, the latter gaping in awe.
The cub kept on staring throughout the journey; every time her snout was turned away by her apologetic mother it pivoted back within just a few seconds. The elder coyote just laughed, and the younger was soon almost as amused. In the end, they beckoned the child over, and once permitted by her mother, she bustled up and began intently examining their prosthesis, one finger tucked into her muzzle.
Then the child tried to climb up onto the older canine; laughing loud, the latter set the former on her lap, where they proceeded to fumble a finger over her nipple ring, then stand on her thighs, one hand resting on the ring-less breast, the other probing her twitching whiskers. Then they moved to her son, cooing at the generous ruff of fur on his chest, and even rubbing their face and kneading their paws into it.
As the train slowed for a station, the cub's mother came to pick them up, thanking the two coyotes profusely, and even lightly hugging them both. By this point the line was passing through a large town, and the next stop was the central station. It was here the two canines got off, the younger starting to tremble again at the sight of the crowds.
His mother hugged him, gently kissed his forehead, whispered a little reassurance into one ear, then took his paw and led him through a long rank of turnstiles, across the huge station lobby, and outside. She kept moving, ignoring all the looks they got as they crossed a massive plaza thronging with people, her focus only on her son and where they were going, her smile never leaving her face.
As they reached the far side of the area, a scowling mink stepped out of the masses to block them, and shout angrily at them.
“Why are you naked?! People can see your...your...” They gestured to the lips between the canine's thighs.
“It's called a vulva,” the elder coyote supplied, politely, smile waning only slightly. “Many people have one.”
“And...and his...”
“Penis. Also common.”
“But normal people don't flaunt them in public!” the mink snapped, a little spittle flying. “Especially not a child's.” They cast around; spotting a police officer, they gestured and shouted to them. “Officer! This sick deviant is causing a serious disturbance! Arrest her!”
The officer joined them, but didn't say anything at first, instead slowly looking around, at all the other people studiously ignoring the conflict in their midst. When they finally addressed the mink, it was calm and even. “I see no disturbance, but if you carry on like that there likely will be soon. Please desist.”
“What?!” The mink bellowed, eyes popping. “They're fu-”
“And kindly refrain from swearing,” the officer cut them off.
“They're naked!” the mink roared. “In the middle of the plaza!”
“Which is legal, unless they were causing a disturbance, which they're not, and clearly don't intend to.”
“Of course not,” the elder coyote assured. “And if we did, we'd dress.”
“Good.” The officer inclined their head in acknowledgement, then set their focus back on the mink. “You're distressing the boy, so be so kind as to move on, or I'll be forced to cite you.”
The mustelid fumed on the spot for several long seconds, fists tightly clenched and teeth gritted, then spun on their heel and left.
The officer turned back to the coyotes. “Please be careful. Not every officer in the area will be so understanding, especially with a child.”
“We will,” the elder canine responded. “And thank you.”
The officer nodded, and moved away. The older coyote drew her son into her arms, held him a long while, stroking the small of his back and the top of his head. When he finally stepped back, it was to find a grey fox standing nearby, staring at them sympathetically. He reached out a hand to softly touch the boy's shoulder.
“I think you're both very brave,” he told them.
The younger coyote's ears lifted. “Thank you.”
“And, if you don't mind me saying so, quite lovely.”
The boy's ears lifted fully, and tinted faintly, while his smile grew, and his mother fair beamed.
“We don't mind at all,” she replied. “And thank you.”
The fox smiled back, tipped his cap, and walked away.
The elder coyote looked to her son. “You all right?”
He nodded, straightening up. “Let's get some books.”
His mother kissed the side of his muzzle, then led him by the paw out of the plaza, and down a pedestrianised street. They quickly reached a large and fairly rambling building with three arched entrances spaced across the front. Inside was a maze of stalls and booths, through which the older canine threaded with confidence.
They ended up at a quite large booth with small shelves and boxes of well-worn books outside. Inside was a tight tangle of cases laden with books, and a darker-furred, subtly muscular coyote in a sleeveless red sundress stacking one of them. They turned to greet the new arrivals, and a hearty laugh erupted from them at the sight.
“Well, aren't you two a picture!”
“So are you!” The mother coyote responded; she and the darker one shared a tight hug and a deep kiss, the latter's hands playfully tickling across her rear and tweaking her tail. “That dress really suits you.”
“Thank you.” They dipped their head, then pulled the boy in for a hug and press of muzzles. “How's my bonny boy, hm?”
“Fine, Si. We're going to ride the coaster at Shore Park!”
“Oh, really?” The darker-furred canine flashed a knowing smile at the boy's mother. “Look after your Mum, all right? She'll be scared.”
“I'm depending on him to get me through it,” she chuckled. “We'll be at the beach afterwards, so if you want to join us...”
“So wish I could, but I have a delivery due. I can swing by your place tomorrow afternoon, though, if you like. If I'm really lucky I might run into Henry.”
“Highly unlikely. He's still extremely busy. But, he has promised to let me know when he's free, then we'll organise a get-together.”
“Great! We need one. Now, I have some books I think you'll like...”
The three coyotes lost themselves in perusing a stack of volumes, the debate over them going on for some time, until the mother settled on two, and the son on three. She paid, the trio hugged and kissed loving farewells, and the boy and the light-furred coyote left, the dark-furred one waving after them.
They crossed back over the plaza, and down a road lined with, among other things, a chip shop, two souvenir shops, and an arcade. It came out on a long, sweeping promenade, across from a pier that extended out across a broad swathe of golden sand, and into shining blue water teased into wavelets by the breeze.
A way off to their right, in a large enclosure sticking out into the sea, was Shore Park, the tall, vivid green curves of a coaster rising behind a vibrant entrance arch. The boy's mood grew brighter and brighter the closer they got, until he was bouncing on his feet when they reached the arch and got into the short queue for tickets, much to his mother's amusement, even as her ears flicked.
At the counter, there was some discussion with the staff, more about the elder coyote's prosthesis than the pair's lack of attire, but it wasn't long before they were let in. The mother's trepidation became clearer and clearer the closer they got to the coaster, until her ears were quite a way back and her tail fairly low.
Looking at her son's capering delight, though, she chuckled, squared her shoulders, and joined the queue with him. It took fifteen minutes to reach the boarding station, where the rides ops did double-takes at the sight of them, laughed, then checked to ensure the elder coyote's prosthesis was firmly strapped on before letting them take seats right at the back of the hanging train, and clicking the restraints into place.
The climb up the lift hill was slow and noisy, and at the crest they had a spectacular view of the entire seafront, but only for a second before the train twisted and plunged at stomach-lurching speed down toward the ground. It rushed back up, and rolled over, and curved almost on its side over a path, and whipped up into another spin, and there was half a chance to catch breath as it slowed upside down at the peak of a loop, and it twisted through another spin, then just as it seemed to be over, it fell off the side of the platform to fly so close above the rippling waves it felt like their dangling feet would clip the water.
It finally slowed to climb back into the station. When the train halted, and the restraints were lifted, the boy leapt out whooping in glee, and his mother, gaping with eyes wide and ears and tail flat, almost fell out, having to be caught by a ride op. Feeling a surge of guilt, the boy took over, helping the elder coyote out of the station and to a bench.
“I...am never,” she stated, voice taut, “ever...doing that again.”
The boy nuzzle-licked her chin a little anxiously. “Sorry, Mum. Should never have made you do it.”
She fixed him with a keen stare. “So...if we happen across him on the beach, you promise you'll talk to him?”
Her son nodded vigorously. “I-I'll even ask him to sit with us.”
“Good.” She let out a very long breath, eyes closed. “Let me catch my breath a minute, then we'll head for the sand.”
It was actually close to ten minutes before she felt ready to walk, and even then it wasn't entirely steadily, her son still supporting her. Near the exit of the park, a grey-furred rat in pale pink bikini top and shorts approached them, concern writ large on her face.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Just a little shaky after the coaster,” the elder coyote told her, with a lopsided grin. “I'll be all right in a minute.”
The rat chuckled. “Yeah, it's pretty full-on for a small park. Would you like some more support?”
“Good of you to offer, but only if it doesn't put you out.”
“It won't, and besides...” Her fingers twiddled shyly. “I came out here hoping to meet people, and you look really nice, so...”
The coyote lifted an arm, her smile expanding. The rat stepped to her side, curled an arm about her waist, settled her paw on their shoulder, then the trio got moving, leaving the park, and heading down a slope to the beach. The elder canine directing them, they threaded amongst the people sitting, lying, sleeping, reading, playing and chatting until a big blue beach umbrella came into view.
A lissome mongoose in a blue one-piece suit was stretched out under it, sunglasses over her eyes, a broad-brimmed hat on her head, a book of crosswords and a pencil in her paws. One of her ears twitched, she looked up, then dropped the book and leapt to her feet with a shining grin and paws flung open.
While the rat stood back just a little awkwardly, the mongoose pulled the coyote in for a close embrace, nuzzling and kissing them. A deeper kiss quickly followed, the rat's ears drooping slightly as they watched, but as they turned to leave, a dark-furred paw latched onto their wrist, and pulled them back.
The mongoose caught their other wrist, and gave them a grateful and welcoming smile. “Thank you for looking after dear Goldie. Knew that coaster would be too much for her. Care to join us?”
“If it's all right...”
“Of course it is! Must warn you, though: we're a tiny bit weird.”
The rat blinked, then laughed. “I'd noticed! Luckily, so am I.”
“Perfect! Sit, sit, sit.”
The two coyotes had already taken a towel from the bag and spread it next to the mongoose's, and the rat hurried to help the elder settle on it, then sat beside her. The younger helped her unstrap her prosthesis and set it aside, then sat in her lap, head pillowed on her breasts. The mongoose plopped down cross-legged on their towel, kissed the boy's nose, then grinned at him.
“You'll be delighted to know he's here,” she told him.
Delight flashed across the boy's face, then it dropped as he fiddled his fingers. “What...what if he doesn't like me, Ma?”
“Not gonna happen.” The mongoose stated, confidently. “Just be your normal, charming self and you'll sweep him off his feet in no time.”
“Definitely,” his mother concurred, smoothing his chest. “If a boy who just rode a bus naked, rode a train naked, walked through the centre of town naked, shopped for books naked, rode a rollercoaster naked and is still naked now, and smiling, in spite of how a few people reacted to them, isn't good enough for him, then, well...”
The boy laughed. “I think I understand, now.” He straightened up, his eyes lit anew. “Maybe I should go look for him.”
His mother beamed. “Put your neckerchief on first.” From her bag she retrieved a cloth lined with stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, and tied it round his neck, then kissed him. “Go get him.”
The boy grinned, kissed her back, then strode away, head high, gazing around intently.
“That's my boy.” The older coyote's voice rang with affection.
The rat cocked her head. “You really did all of that?”
“We did.”
The rat laughed a little ruefully. “That's amazing. Now I'm even more sad you're taken.”
The coyote cocked her head, shared a look with the mongoose, then both grinned hugely. The latter pulled another cloth from her bag, this one patterned with bands of blue, red and black, a golden pi symbol in the middle of the red stripe, and tied it around her neck.
The rat stared. And blinked. “Oh.” And smiled. Broadly. “Well, that's a stroke of luck.”
The coyote took her hand. “If you're genuinely interested, we'll talk to the others. Maybe introduce you at the get-together we're planning.”
“I'd like that.” The rat squeezed her hand. “I'd like that a lot.” They sat up, looking past the canine. “Oh, I think your boy has found his boy...”
The coyote and the mongoose looked where the rat pointed, to watch as the former's son spoke to a handsome young caracal in white trunks and cap. Everyone held their breath, then when the cat stepped up to hug the canine, cheered as one. The boys even shared a brief press of muzzles, then turned to walk back towards the umbrella, paw in paw.
“Wonder what it was he understood,” the rat mused.
“Don't be ashamed.” The coyote stroked her neckerchief. “Be proud.”